Today, though, I'd arranged to take collection of a truck full of wood chippings offered by Roy, one of the Saturday regulars in the Club. Reg-next-plot was transferring bags of manure when I arrived into a new pallet compost bin that he's made.
Looking at my own rather overfull compost bin, I said, "I need to make another one, too". Reg, cast a critical eye over it, stacked as it is with more than twice it's height with prickly gooseberry bushes & thick sweetcorn stems, & grinned, "That's more like a bonfire that a compost heap!"
In preparation for the wood chippings, I opened a new roll of weed suppressant & with Reg's help cut it to size & laid it on all the paths, weighing it down with bricks.
Reg went off for his lunch & I'd just got the final piece of weed suppressant positioned to my satisfaction, Roy arrived in his truck, reversed & tipped the load of chippings in an enormous pile on the roadway.He cast a doubtful eye over the pile & asked, "Are you sure that will that be enough?"
"Good grief, I should think so," I said weakly.
"Well, just let me know if you want some more - it's no trouble."
Having turned down the offer of a pint, I pressed a bag of curly kale onto him instead in thanks, & off he went, leaving me busy with a shovel & Reg's wheelbarrow.
A hardworking hour of industry later, I'd redistributed the pile of chippings to all of the paths, & I cannot say how delighted I am with the result. The plot looks bloody marvelous, if I say so myself.Having turned a slightly odd shade with this exertion, I tottered up to the club for well earned refreshment, then home for a well earned rest.
Aah, the smell of fresh wood chippings - lovely! Your plot looks great but, yes, your compost bin does look somewhat overflowing. I bet there's a hedgehog or two in there.
ReplyDeleteCor, doesn't that look lovely. You can never have too many bark chippings - if Reg wants to bring more, let the dear chap have his own way!
ReplyDeleteYou definitely deserve a sit down with something restorative {smile}
Hmm, am getting Roys and Regs confused.
ReplyDeleteI love it when my paths are freshly layered with chippings. It all looks so tidy. I laid the front garden wood-chipped path in windy weather and the weed suppressant acted like a sail! I nearly ended up in the pond!
ReplyDeleteThank you for dropping by, Aching Back - I love the smell of these choppings too - interestingly more like the smell of 'ready rub' than the sharp pine of the christmas tree shreddings.
ReplyDeleteCompost bins soon on the hit list of things to do - hadn't thought of hedgehogs, so must be very careful with the fork...
I should do as Nic does, and pop a photo up of the 'regulars' at the Hill, Bilbo - although so many people look aghast when you start waving a camera around for some reason.
I have advice for laying weed fabric in windy conditions, Flum - it is 'wait until there are no windy conditions'!